The annual Clean-Up & Recycle SA Week, held from 16-21 September, celebrated its 28th year, uniting communities, businesses, and schools across the country to raise awareness about waste management and environmental conservation. The week concluded with International Coastal Clean-Up (ICC) Day on Saturday, 21 September, where hundreds of volunteers cleaned litter from beaches nationwide.

Douw Steyn, Sustainability Director at Plastics SA, highlighted the overwhelming support for this year’s campaign. “Thanks to generous contributions from our sponsors, we distributed a record-breaking 800,000 bags to clean-up coordinators nationwide. We are immensely thankful for the contributions from the plastics industry, brand owners, PROs, logistics companies, and NGOs. Their continued partnership has been vital to the success of Clean-Up & Recycle SA Week.”

Over 50 audited cleanups took place across South Africa, organised by schools, NGOs, municipalities, businesses, and community volunteers. The clean-ups spanned the entire coastline, ensuring widespread participation, with many volunteers braving difficult weather conditions, especially in KwaZulu-Natal.

A key highlight was the personal involvement of Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, Narend Singh, who attended the beach clean-up at Durban's Cutting Beach. His presence facilitated discussions on fostering better waste management and recycling infrastructure. Singh encouraged the public to avoid littering and stressed the need for proper systems.

In Cape Town, major clean-ups occurred at various sites, including Milnerton Beach lagoon, where 400 kg of waste was cleared on Saturday and 394 kg on Sunday. Groups like Save a Fishie and Captain Fanplastic led efforts, with support from Plastics SA, which provided clean-up toolkits for schools.

Despite logistical challenges, the Sustainable Seas Trust and Plastics SA ensured that clean-up coordinators received supplies on time. "Our provincial and ICC coordinators are the real stars," said Steyn. "They make sure that all bags are distributed to schools, municipalities, and volunteers.”

The 2024 event also introduced a new competition, encouraging individuals and community groups to showcase their recycling efforts. Winners will be announced in October.

Plastics SA continues to collaborate with packaging PROs, providing education, infrastructure, and training to waste collectors, adding value to collected materials. The Clean-Up & Recycle SA Week remains a powerful educational tool for promoting recycling, with a focus on cleaning beaches, rivers, and roadsides, while also encouraging recycling at home, school, and work.

However, challenges persist. Many clean-up sites lack facilities for processing recyclables, and some collected waste inevitably ends up in landfills. Efforts are underway to ensure that waste collectors receive bags to sort recyclable materials before waste is sent to landfill.

“The Clean-Up & Recycle SA Week continues to raise awareness about the critical importance of recycling and environmental care,” Steyn concludes. “With efforts to strengthen infrastructure, increase participation, and provide education, Plastics SA and its partners are dedicated to building a cleaner, greener future for South Africa.”

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